Basket-Type Gemstone Setting

ABSTRACT

Provided is, among other things, a gemstone setting that includes a basket portion and a retaining member. The basket portion has: 1) a top peripheral structure, 2) a bottom peripheral structure, and 3) a support structure connecting the top peripheral structure and the bottom peripheral structure. The retaining member includes a retaining structure and two inserts, with the retaining structure extending between and upwardly above the inserts and also extending inwardly. A pair of openings for accommodating the inserts is provided in the basket portion. The inserts are disposed within the openings, and the retaining member is permanently bonded to the attachment structure.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention pertains, among other things, to gemstone settings, as well as to methods and techniques for fabricating such settings.

BACKGROUND

It is common to use gemstones in a variety of different types of jewelry. Such gemstones often are mineral crystals that have been cut and polished. However, they also can include various other kinds of stones or even organic materials (again, typically cut, or otherwise formed, and then polished). When used in jewelry, a “setting”, often made of gold, silver and/or other (e.g., less expensive) metal(s), is used to hold and secure the gemstone.

A variety of different kinds of gemstone settings exist. However, improvements remain desirable. Particularly desirable are settings that can best display the gemstone, while simultaneously providing more pragmatic benefits, e.g., more securely holding the gemstone and/or reducing the cost and/or complexity of producing the item of jewelry.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention addresses these needs, e.g., by providing unique gemstone settings that often can provide better combinations of: improved ability to securely hold a gemstone, attractive aesthetics, and ease of manufacture and use, than can be attained with conventional settings.

One particular embodiment of the invention is directed to a gemstone setting that includes a basket portion and at least one retaining member. The basket portion has: 1) a top peripheral structure, 2) a bottom peripheral structure, and 3) a support structure connecting the top peripheral structure and the bottom peripheral structure. The retaining member includes a retaining structure and two inserts, with the retaining structure extending between and upwardly above the inserts and also extending inwardly. A pair of openings for accommodating the inserts is provided in the basket portion. The inserts are disposed within the openings, and the retaining member is permanently bonded to the attachment structure.

The foregoing setting often can securely hold a gemstone while simultaneously providing it with excellent visibility from a variety of different angles. In addition, such a setting can be relatively easy to produce while providing greater tolerances to variations in the size and/or shape of the gemstones that it can accommodate.

In even more specific versions of the foregoing embodiment: (1) the openings are formed in a top portion of the support structure; (2) the support structure includes (or consist solely or primarily of) a number of elongated segments, each extending between the bottom peripheral structure and the top peripheral structure; (3) each of such openings is formed in a top end of one of the elongated segments; (4) each elongated segment includes a section that is angled upwardly between the bottom peripheral structure and the top peripheral structure; (5) each of the bottom peripheral structure and the top peripheral structure is a closed shape formed from an (e.g., a single) elongated element; (6) the elongated element has a substantially uniform width around such closed shape; (7) the basket portion also includes a second retaining member that is integrally formed with the top peripheral structure and/or at least a portion of the support structure; (8) the second retaining member includes a second retaining structure that, when in use, visually is substantially identical to the retaining structure; (9) the retaining structure is configured as a single elongated segment; (10) such single elongated segment has substantially uniform width across its entire length; (11) the retaining member is permanently bonded to the attachment structure by at least one of welding or soldering; (12) the top peripheral structure occupies or encloses substantially more area than the bottom peripheral structure; (13) the basket portion has been integrally formed as a single unitary piece; (14) the setting also includes a gemstone disposed within the basket portion and held in place by the retaining member; (15) the top peripheral structure has a shape that conforms to a perimeter of the gemstone; (16) such perimeter is beneath a top surface of the gemstone; (17) the inserts extend at least approximately parallel to each other; (18) the inserts are configured as posts; and/or (19) a top surface of the basket portion is substantially flat.

The foregoing summary is intended merely to provide a brief description of certain aspects of the invention. A more complete understanding of the invention can be obtained by referring to the claims and the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments in connection with the accompanying figures.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the following disclosure, the invention is described with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, it should be understood that the drawings merely depict certain representative and/or exemplary embodiments and features of the present invention and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention in any manner. The following is a brief description of each of the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a setting for holding an emerald-cut gemstone, shown as part of a pendant, according to a representative embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a top perspective view of such emerald-cut gemstone pendant in use, i.e., holding an emerald-cut gemstone (with the gemstone depicted in broken lines).

FIG. 3 is a bottom perspective view of such emerald-cut gemstone pendant in use, i.e., holding an emerald-cut gemstone (with the gemstone depicted in broken lines).

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of a setting for holding a triangle-cut gemstone, shown as part of a pendant, according to a representative embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a top perspective view of such triangle-cut gemstone pendant in use, i.e., holding a triangle-cut gemstone (with the gemstone depicted in broken lines).

FIG. 6 is a bottom perspective view of such triangle-cut gemstone pendant in use, i.e., holding a triangle-cut gemstone (with the gemstone depicted in broken lines).

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT(S)

Emerald-Cut Gemstone Setting.

A pendant 2 that includes a setting 10 for holding an emerald-cut gemstone 5, according to a representative embodiment of the present invention, is illustrated in FIGS. 1-3 . As shown, the main components of setting 10 are: (1) a basket portion 20 and (2) one or more separately attached retaining members 40.

In the preferred embodiments, e.g., for enhanced structural integrity and ease of manufacturing, basket portion 20 is molded as a single unitary structure. In any event, basket portion 20 preferably includes: (i) a top peripheral structure 21, (ii) a bottom peripheral structure 25, and (iii) a support structure 28 that connects the top peripheral structure 21 to the bottom peripheral structure 25. Preferably, basket portion 20 also includes one or more integral retaining member(s) 35.

In the current embodiment, both top peripheral structure 21 and bottom peripheral structure 25 have a similar shape, preferably matching the size and shape of different cross-section(s) or perimeter(s) of the gemstone 5 that is to be held by the setting 10 (e.g., each matching the size and shape of the cross-section or perimeter of the gemstone 5 at a different depth). In the specific present embodiment, each such shape is substantially rectangular, but with additional edges where each of the 90° corners would be in a normal rectangle. As discussed, e.g., in connection with the second main embodiment described below, in alternate embodiments (particularly where differently shaped gemstones are to be held), other shapes are used.

In addition, in the current embodiment, each (or at least one) of top peripheral structure 21 and bottom peripheral structure 25 is configured as a closed shape (i.e., continuous around its entire perimeter). More preferably, such a peripheral structure is provided by a single, unitary elongated element. This configuration has been found to provide the overall setting 10 with enhanced structural integrity. However, in alternate embodiments, e.g., to achieve other aesthetic effects, a noncontinuous configuration (i.e., with one or more gaps) and/or one in which the peripheral structure is provided by two or more separate elongated elements is used.

Also, in the current embodiment, each of top peripheral structure 21 and bottom peripheral structure 25 has a substantially uniform width (e.g., varying from a nominal width by not more than ±10% around at least 80% of its entire perimeter). Still further, in the current embodiment, the top peripheral structure 21 is substantially larger (e.g., occupies or encloses substantially more area, such as at least 30%, 50% or 100% more area) than the bottom peripheral structure 25. This configuration often is appropriate for accommodating a gemstone 5 that has a larger circumference at or near its top surface 7 and tapers toward its bottom (in some cases, narrowing to just a single point at the very bottom). However, in alternate embodiments, e.g., configured to accommodate differently shaped (e.g., less tapered or even non-tapered) gemstones, the bottom peripheral structure 25 is as large (or almost as large) as the top peripheral structure 21.

Traversing downwardly from the top surface 7 of gemstone 5, the perimeter (or cross-section) of gemstone 5 becomes progressively larger until reaching edge (or perimeter) 6 and, thereafter, tapers (i.e., becomes progressively smaller) until reaching the bottom surface 8. As shown, in the current embodiment, when the setting 10 is in use, the top peripheral structure 21 of the setting 10 is disposed beneath the top surface 7 of the gemstone 5 and also (in this particular case, a little) beneath its widest perimeter 6. More specifically, the size of top peripheral structure 21 is smaller than the widest edge 6 of the gemstone 5 (which again, with respect to the present gemstone 5, is beneath its top surface 7). At the same time, top peripheral structure 21 has the same (or substantially the same) size and shape as the perimeter (or cross-section) of the gemstone 5 at the point at which it makes contact with gemstone 5.

As a result, because the bottom portion of the gemstone 5 is tapered, gemstone 5 can be simply lowered to a position where it is supported by the top peripheral structure 21 (i.e., to where its perimeter matches the perimeter of the top peripheral structure 21). In addition, by appropriately matching the sizes of the top peripheral structure 21 and the bottom peripheral structure 25 to the taper of the gemstone 5, and also matching the shapes of the top peripheral structure 21 and the bottom peripheral structure 25 to the corresponding cross-sections of the gemstone 5 (which is the case in the preferred embodiments), at that same position, the bottom peripheral structure 25 also will support the gemstone 5.

This particular matching of the setting 10 to the gemstone 5 can provide a variety of different advantages, e.g.: (1) better exposing more of the top surface 7 and sides of the gemstone 5 than if the top peripheral structure 21 were to extend around the periphery of the top surface of the gemstone 5; (2) allowing the overall setting 10 to accommodate greater variances in the size of the gemstone 5 that it holds; and/or (3) allowing the overall setting 10 to accommodate a greater variety of different gemstone shapes (e.g., a gemstone 5 with additional angled segments at its corners, as shown most clearly in FIGS. 1 and 2 , or a similar gemstone but with right-angle corners, i.e., exactly or at least more like a normal rectangle).

In the current embodiment, support structure 28 is configured as (i.e. includes, or consists primarily or solely of) a set of elongated segments extending between the bottom peripheral structure 25 and the top peripheral structure 21. More specifically, in the present embodiment, such segments radiate outwardly from the bottom peripheral structure 25 to the top peripheral structure 21, with each including a section 28 a that is angled upwardly and, at least in the current embodiment, a section 28 b that extends substantially or entirely vertically. The use of such elongated segments, particularly in combination with the frame structures of the bottom peripheral structure 25 and the top peripheral structure 21, permits much better views of the sides and bottom of the gemstone 5, in addition to providing good structural integrity. As a result, e.g., the entire assembly remains very attractive even if the pendant 2 were to flip over when in use.

Also, in the current embodiment, several of such segments forming the support structure 28 (two on each side in this particular embodiment) include openings 30 at their top ends (or, more generally, in their top portions). These openings 30 accommodate corresponding inserts 42 that are part of each retaining member 40. More specifically, in the current embodiment, each retaining member 40 includes two inserts 42 that extend at least approximately parallel to each other and are configured as short posts, with circular cross-sections to make alignment easier. However, other cross-sections or shapes instead may be used in alternate embodiments.

Each retaining member 40, in addition to having two inserts 42 in the current embodiment, also includes a retaining structure 44 that extends between and upwardly above such inserts 42 and also extends inwardly, with its shape preferably corresponding closely to the shape of the intended gemstone 5, so as to secure gemstone 5 within the setting 10. For that purpose, the retaining structure 44 preferably is configured as a single elongated segment having has substantially uniform width (e.g., varying from a nominal width by not more than ±10% across at least 80% of its length). For structural integrity, each such retaining member 40 preferably is molded as a single unitary piece and, in some cases, two or more retaining members 40 initially are molded together as a single piece and then subsequently separated from each other (e.g., by cutting away segment(s) that join them together).

In the preferred embodiments, integral retaining member(s) 35 are, from a visual standpoint, identical or substantially identical to retaining member(s) 40, and as many of the total number of retaining members as possible are provided as integral retaining member(s) 35, so long as the corresponding gemstone (e.g., gemstone 5) can be properly placed into the basket portion 20 without undue effort. In the specific current embodiment, only one of the three is provided as an integral retaining member 35, and the other two are subsequently attached retaining members 40.

Preferably, the entire basket portion 20, and more preferably, the entire pendant 2 other than the separately attached retaining member(s) 40, is molded as a single unitary piece. In the current specific embodiment, the two retaining members 40 are molded as a single piece, attached together by a segment; that segment subsequently is cut off or otherwise removed (e.g., prior to assembly of the completed setting 10), and then the points where it attached to the retaining members 40 are smoothed and polished. However, in alternate embodiments, each retaining member 40 is molded separately.

During assembly: (1) the gemstone 5 preferably is simply inserted into the basket portion 20, and more preferably, inserted such that it abuts integral retaining member(s) 35, (2) the inserts 42 (e.g., of each retaining member 40) are inserted into the corresponding openings 30, (3) the retaining member(s) 40 are permanently bonded to the support structure 28 and/or the top peripheral structure 21, typically by soldering or, typically less frequently, welding, and then (4) the attachment points between the retaining member(s) 40 and the basket portion 20 are smoothed and/or polished. In addition to simplifying assembly, this process, as well as the resulting structure, often can better accommodate slight differences in the height of the gemstone 5, e.g., by permitting some variation in the depth to which inserts 42 are inserted into openings 30.

Attaching the retaining members 40 to the ends of the elongated segments that make up the support structure 28, e.g., in the manner described above, often can provide the best structural integrity. However, in alternate embodiments, retaining members 40 instead (or also) are attached to the top peripheral structure 21. For example, openings 30 might instead be provided in the top surface of top peripheral structure 21. In any event, as shown in FIG. 1 , in the preferred embodiments the top surface of the support structure 28 is flush with the top surface of the top peripheral structure 21, and both are flat.

Triangle-Cut Gemstone Setting.

A pendant 102 that includes a setting 110 for holding a triangle-cut gemstone 105, according to a representative embodiment of the present invention, is illustrated in FIGS. 4-6 . Similar to setting 10, the main components of setting 110 are: (1) a basket portion 120 and (2) one or more separately attached retaining members 140, with setting 110 including a top peripheral structure 121, a bottom peripheral structure 125, a support structure 128, openings 130 and integral retaining member(s) 135, and with each retaining member 140 including inserts 142 and a retaining structure 144 extending between them.

Except as otherwise and/or additionally described herein and/or illustrated in the accompanying drawings, the same comments and considerations discussed above in connection with the structures, fabrication and assembly of each of the items in the first column below (in reference to the previous embodiment) also apply with respect to corresponding item in the second column (in reference to the current embodiment) below, and vice versa.

pendant 2 pendant 102 emerald-cut gemstone 5 triangle-cut gemstone 105 largest perimeter 6 largest perimeter 106 top surface 7 of the gemstone top surface 107 of the gemstone bottom surface 8 of the gemstone bottom surface 108 of the gemstone setting 10 setting 110 basket portion 20 basket portion 120 top peripheral structure 21 top peripheral structure 121 bottom peripheral structure 25 bottom peripheral structure 125 support structure 28 support structure 128 upwardly angled section 28a upwardly angled section 128a vertical section 28b vertical section 128b openings 30 openings 130 integral retaining member(s) 35 integral retaining member(s) 135 separately attached retaining members 40 separately attached retaining members 140 inserts 42 inserts 142 retaining structure 44 retaining structure 144

That is, comments pertaining to one embodiment typically also can be made with respect to the other by substituting the corresponding element numbers and replacing references to any of FIGS. 1-3 with references to corresponding FIGS. 4-6 , respectively, or vice versa. Generally speaking, the two embodiments differ only in ways relating to the shape of the gemstone (5 or 105) that each is intended to hold, and a comparison of the two embodiments highlights some of the accommodations that may be made with respect to differently shaped gemstones in the different embodiments of the present invention.

Several distinctions between the two embodiments are as follows. First, basket portion 120 is shaped to accommodate a triangle-cut gemstone 105 (e.g., with a triangularly shaped top peripheral structure 121 and a triangularly shaped bottom peripheral structure 125), but otherwise is substantially the same as basket portion 20. At the same time, retaining member 140 in the current embodiment is identical to each retaining member 40 in the previous embodiment (although, as noted above, only one separately attached retaining member 140 is used in the current embodiment, while two separately attached retaining members 40 are used in the previous embodiment). Similarly, each integral retaining member 135 in the current embodiment is similar to integral retaining member 35 in the previous embodiment (although, as noted above, two integral retaining members 135 are used in the current embodiment, while only one integral retaining member 35 is used in the previous embodiment). A further distinction is that, in the current embodiment, openings 130 are partially disposed within the support structure 128 and partially within the top peripheral structure 121, while in the previous embodiment, the openings 30 are disposed entirely within the support structure 28.

Additional Considerations.

The pendants in the specific embodiments described above and illustrated in the attached drawings are left-right symmetrical, so that the left and right sides are mirror images of each other. However, certain further embodiments do not exhibit such symmetry. Also, the embodiments discussed above are for accommodating an emerald-cut gemstone 5 or a triangle-cut gemstone 105. Alternate embodiments, e.g., having any of the characteristics discussed above, can accommodate gemstones having any other desired shape, such as round brilliant, baguette, marquise or pear.

As used herein, the term “attached”, or any other form of the word, without further modification, is intended to mean directly attached, attached through one or more other intermediate elements or components, or integrally formed together. In the drawings and/or the discussion, where two individual components or elements are shown and/or discussed as being directly attached to each other, such attachments should be understood as being merely exemplary, and in alternate embodiments the attachment instead may include additional components or elements between such two components. Similarly, method steps discussed and/or claimed herein are not intended to be exclusive; rather, intermediate steps may be performed between any two steps expressly discussed or claimed herein.

Unless otherwise clearly stated herein, all relative directions (e.g., left, right, top, bottom, above, below) mentioned herein in relation to an article are from the perspective of the article itself and, therefore, are consistent across different views.

Unless clearly indicated to the contrary, words such as “optimal”, “optimize”, “maximize”, “minimize”, “best”, as well as similar words and other words and suffixes denoting comparison, in the above discussion are not used in their absolute sense. Instead, such terms ordinarily are intended to be understood in light of any other potential constraints, such as user-specified constraints and objectives, as well as cost and processing or manufacturing constraints.

In the above discussion, certain methods are explained by breaking them down into steps listed in a particular order. However, it should be noted that in each such case, except to the extent clearly indicated to the contrary or mandated by practical considerations (such as where the results from one step are necessary to perform another), the indicated order is not critical but, instead, that the described steps can be reordered and/or two or more of such steps can be performed concurrently.

In the discussions above, the words “include”, “includes”, “including”, and all other forms of the word should not be understood as limiting, but rather any specific items following such words should be understood as being merely exemplary.

Several different embodiments of the present invention are described above, with each such embodiment described as including certain features. However, it is intended that the features described in connection with the discussion of any single embodiment are not limited to that embodiment but may be included and/or arranged in various combinations in any of the other embodiments as well, as will be understood by those skilled in the art.

Thus, although the present invention has been described in detail with regard to the exemplary embodiments thereof and accompanying drawings, it should be apparent to those skilled in the art that various adaptations and modifications of the present invention may be accomplished without departing from the intent and the scope of the invention. Accordingly, the invention is not limited to the precise embodiments shown in the drawings and described above. Rather, it is intended that all such variations not departing from the intent of the invention are to be considered as within the scope thereof as limited solely by the claims appended hereto. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A gemstone setting, comprising: (a) a basket portion having: (i) a top peripheral structure, (ii) a bottom peripheral structure, and (iii) a support structure connecting said top peripheral structure and said bottom peripheral structure; and (b) a retaining member that includes a retaining structure and two inserts, with the retaining structure extending between and upwardly above said inserts and also extending inwardly, wherein a pair of openings for accommodating said inserts is provided in said basket portion, and wherein said inserts are disposed within said openings, and said retaining member is permanently bonded to said attachment structure.
 2. A gemstone setting according to claim 1, wherein said openings are formed in a top portion of said support structure.
 3. A gemstone setting according to claim 2, wherein said support structure comprises a plurality of elongated segments, and wherein each of said openings is formed in a top end of one of said elongated segments.
 4. A gemstone setting according to claim 1, wherein said support structure comprises a plurality of elongated segments, each including a section that is angled upwardly between the bottom peripheral structure and the top peripheral structure.
 5. A gemstone setting according to claim 1, wherein said support structure consists solely of a plurality of elongated segments extending between the bottom peripheral structure and the top peripheral structure.
 6. A gemstone setting according to claim 1, wherein each of the bottom peripheral structure and the top peripheral structure is a closed shape formed from an elongated element.
 7. A gemstone setting according to claim 6, wherein said elongated element has a substantially uniform width around said closed shape.
 8. A gemstone setting according to claim 1, wherein said basket portion further comprises a second retaining member that is integrally formed with at least one of (a) said top peripheral structure or (b) at least a portion of said support structure.
 9. A gemstone setting according to claim 8, wherein said second retaining member comprises a second retaining structure that, when in use, visually is substantially identical to the retaining structure.
 10. A gemstone setting according to claim 1, wherein the retaining structure is configured as a single elongated segment.
 11. A gemstone setting according to claim 10, wherein said single elongated segment has substantially uniform width across its entire length.
 12. A gemstone setting according to claim 1, wherein said retaining member is permanently bonded to said attachment structure by at least one of welding or soldering.
 13. A gemstone setting according to claim 1, wherein said top peripheral structure occupies substantially more area than said bottom peripheral structure.
 14. A gemstone setting according to claim 1, wherein said basket portion has been integrally formed as a single unitary piece.
 15. A gemstone setting according to claim 1, further comprising a gemstone disposed within said basket portion and held in place by said retaining member.
 16. A gemstone setting according to claim 15, wherein said top peripheral structure has a shape that conforms to a perimeter of said gemstone.
 17. A gemstone setting according to claim 16, wherein said perimeter is beneath a top surface of said gemstone.
 18. A gemstone setting according to claim 1, wherein said inserts extend at least approximately parallel to each other.
 19. A gemstone setting according to claim 1, wherein said inserts are configured as posts.
 20. A gemstone setting according to claim 1, wherein a top surface of said basket portion is substantially flat. 